2025 Annual Report to the Community
A Note from CEO Patricia Burch
Our 2025 Fiscal Year brought much to celebrate. Together, we are embracing bold, innovative solutions: Ground leases that protect long-term affordability. Denser building models that maximize our land. We expanded partnerships by working with our faith supporters, advocated for systems change, and saw real movement in affordable housing policy.
We impacted more than 140 families through home preservation and new construction builds, and embarked on Hope Grove in Garner, our largest community ever that will provide not only over 400 mixed income homes, but also a park and greenway. And perhaps our most transformative step to date is our new Revolving Loan Fund. (LINK TO CASE?)
It’s not just a campaign—it’s a movement. A self-replenishing source of capital for land acquisition and development. This fund will allow us to move faster and act bolder. We will have cash on hand to purchase land quickly, will help us mitigate the costs of borrowing money, and will free up funds in our general budget for additional building.
But most importantly, it has the potential to enable us to serve nearly 60% more families every year. Investments in that fund aren’t a one-time act; they are a legacy. A legacy that honors the people who brought us through the first 40 years, and a legacy celebrating the excitement and energy and boldness that the next 40 will surely bring.
From the very beginning, Habitat Wake was never just about building houses. It was—and still is—about building community. When we lift each other up, we all rise. We all become stronger, more resilient, and wonderfully connected. We have so much to be proud of, and so much to look forward to, as our story is far from finished. Thank you for being a part of it.
Sincerely,
Patricia Burch, Habitat Wake CEO
Table of Contents
Our Top Stories of 2025
Groundbreaking in Garner
In May 2025, we broke ground on Hope Grove—a new, mixed-income community located off of Creech Road in Garner. The new neighborhood will bring approximately 400 new homes to the area over the next 5 years. Habitat Wake hopes to start work on the above-ground land development in Summer 2026, adding roads and sidewalks. If work goes as expected, vertical building will begin in late 2026, at which point the neighborhood will be ready for Habitat Wake volunteers to help build.
Home Builders Blitz 2025 took five homes from frame to finish in just seven days!
Working in teams of two, ten local builders from across Wake and Johnston Counties worked tirelessly to complete homes for five local families. Each day marked a new milestone, from raising walls on day one, to midweek drywall and painting and finally ending the week with beautiful landscaping. Our builders even added special touches for the soon-to-be homeowners, including rocking chairs, flags, welcome mats and gift baskets.
Local partnerships helped us preserve more homes.
Home repairs are a vital part of Habitat Wake’s mission to prevent displacement and ensure families can remain in safe, affordable homes. Last June, we partnered with Preserving Homes (formerly Rebuilding Together of the Triangle) and Guardian Roofing to provide essential roof and siding renovations for a local family.
Staff Highlights
As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations, our Then/Now series highlighted our team's accomplishments across the decades!
Homeowner Highlights
Happy Mother's Day, Michelle
"For me, my kids have always been my motivation to do all this.” Michelle's hard work and perseverance allowed her to welcome her family to their new home–just in time for Mother's Day!
Health and Housing: Sharon's Story
"I have been through hell and high water. But look, I’m about to be on dry land.” Sharon's story demonstrates the profound impact of housing stability on physical and mental health.
Welcome Home Shawn
"I’m giving my grandkids generational wealth. Building that equity that can be an asset for our family moving forward.” Shawn’s story is a testament to the transformative impact of affordable homeownership.
Departmental Updates
Advocating for Affordable Housing at the State Level
Last spring, more than 150 housing advocates from across North Carolina gathered in downtown Raleigh for NC Housing Day, holding over 100 meetings with state and local legislators to deliver one clear message: housing must be a top priority in North Carolina’s budget and legislative agenda. Spanning two days, NC Housing Day was a joint effort by Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina, the NC Housing Coalition and the NC Coalition to End Homelessness. Together, we raised our voices across the housing continuum (rental assistance, homelessness response, and homeownership) urging lawmakers to invest in safe, stable and affordable housing for all.
Protecting Local Affordable Housing Funding
Habitat Wake’s advocates called on the City of Raleigh and Wake County to protect local funding for affordable housing programs in the FY26 City and County budgets. Local public funding is a critical resource for nonprofit housing providers like Habitat at a time where public resources are under threat at the state and federal levels. Advocates wrote to their local elected officials and showed up at public hearings to protect local investment in housing. The City’s FY26 budget maintained level funding for affordable housing, while the County’s funding increased by $4 million for a new affordable housing acquisition fund.
Triangle Team Supports Reopening of Asheville ReStore
Triangle ReStores raised money through community donations at the register to support western NC affiliates in October 2024 as well as sent two teams in the winter of 2025 to support the reopening of the Asheville ReStore after Hurricane Helene.
TNVLC Honors Clayton ReStore Core Volunteer
Clayton ReStore volunteer Kai was awarded the Perseverance in Volunteerism Key Volunteer of the Year Award by The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center in June 2025. Kai has volunteered 365 hours since December 2024 at the Clayton ReStore, bringing dedication, enthusiasm and a strong desire to grow. He loves to help shoppers and donors.
Building the Beloved Community: A Reflection on Habitat Wake’s Bold Faith
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque nec nisi ornare, faucibus lectus vel, iaculis erat. Vivamus facilisis, metus eu lobortis gravida, nibh mi malesuada nisl, quis sagittis leo ex ac justo. Vivamus massa metus, vulputate ac tellus at, molestie pellentesque orci. Aenean ut lorem id neque sodales euismod. Vestibulum enim libero, consequat nec sapien quis, consequat scelerisque nisl. Suspendisse faucibus a sem sit amet vehicula. Donec a eros nec elit luctus efficitur. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae;
Yes, In God’s Back Yard Movement Begins!
Yes, In God’s Back Yard (YIGBY) is an emerging national movement of congregations repurposing their underutilized property for affordable housing. In FY25, Habitat Wake began its inaugural YIGBY project, partnering with Wake Missionary Baptist Association and Antioch Bible Fellowship to acquire and develop surplus property to generate 28 affordable housing units.
Affordable Housing 101
We created new educational content that raises awareness of the affordable housing crisis and highlights how Habitat is part of the solution, as well as content that clearly explains our homeownership program.
In the News
2025 Faith Partners
Thank you to our lead Faith partners!
Thank you to our lead Faith partners!
Corporate and Foundation Partners in 2025
Partner Highlight: Builders Mutual
Builders Mutual, one of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast’s leading writers of insurance for the construction industry, is proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity to support safe, affordable housing across our footprint. Rooted in our purpose to protect and advance the unique needs of the contractor community, this partnership allows us to make an impact beyond insurance. Through our Giveback program, we’re committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work—bringing that commitment to life through hands-on Habitat build days, where our employees volunteer their time, skills, and teamwork alongside Habitat staff, homeowners, and policyholders.
Whole Home Builder
Whole Home Builder
Future Framer
Future Framer
Dream Developers
Dream Developers
Groundbreakers
Groundbreakers
Roof Raiser
Roof Raiser
Door Openers
Door Openers
Blueprint Sponsors
Blueprint Sponsors
2024 Audited Financials
By the Numbers
